Greenlight

In this edition of the Greenlight series, we spoke to Dara O’Shea who opened up on captaining Ireland, life on loan at Exeter and being a part of West Brom’s talented youth academy. “If you imagine the Ferdinand/Vidic partnership at Manchester United, Dara is very much the Vidic.” _____ 20-year old centre-back Dara O’Shea is in a unique position. With Ireland, he …

“It’s an unusual position to be in,” says 18-year-old Bayern Munich prospect Ryan Johansson of his multi-national eligibility. “The biggest thing in all of this is that it’s not really that relatable.” _____ To suggest that 2018 was a sombre year for Irish football would be putting it mildly. One win, four goals, Nations League relegation, a managerial sacking, and …

Born and raised in Wicklow and just breaking into the UCD senior team, in 2017 Simon Power couldn’t have dreamed of the situation he’d be in just two years down the line. “It’s mental really,” began Power. “Me of all people, just a normal lad, an Irish born lad, born and raised in Wicklow to be playing football in Holland …

It has been an excellent start to life at Doncaster Rovers for former Cork City forward Kieran Sadlier The 24-year old moved to the Keepmoat in December following a standout campaign with the Leesiders which saw him score sixteen goals and secure a spot in the PFAI Team of the Season. Sadlier has been eased into the first team since …

So often when it comes to ‘Granny Rule’ players and the Irish national team, many assume the situation is black and white. “We should be picking Irish born players who want to play for Ireland!” “He’s only picking Ireland because he’s not good enough for England!” Familiar cries of foul when talk of an English born footballer representing the country …

For Millwall midfielder Shaun Williams the road to his first international cap for the Boys in Green was a long and winding one. From United Park to Morton Stadium, from Stadium:mk to The Den, Williams’ career has frequently been a case of the path less travelled. A path that eventually led him to the Stade de France in Paris in …

“There has never, at least in my understanding of Gaelic football, been a better inside forward than John Egan. I can’t say he was the best, but I can say there was no-one better” – Mick O’Dwyer. _____ Ask anyone in the Kingdom and they’ll tell you the Egan name is sporting royalty. In the town of Sneem in County …

“If I could have a career like Liam Brady or Robbie Keane I’d definitely take that,” quips Ryan Nolan. He’s certainly in elite company. In 2015, Ryan Nolan moved to Italian giants Inter Milan becoming only the third Irishman to ever play for the club behind Brady and Keane. During his four years in Italy, the Clare native has captained …

Pundit Arena sat down with Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph, who opened up on his international career, a difficult year with the Boys in Green and sympathising with Declan Rice. ______ It is said that the goalkeeper is the most lonely man on the football pitch. Former Celtic and Poland stopper Arthur Boruc once quipped that “being a goalkeeper is like …

Pundit Arena caught up with Brighton’s underage hitman, Aaron Connolly, to discuss life under Chris Hughton, Irish ambitions and those Hoffenheim rumours. _____ “The Republic of Ireland have really struggled for goals since Robbie Keane retired,” is a narrative that Irish football fans are far too familiar with. Four matches in a row without scoring, 0.4 average goals per game …

It hasn’t been easy being an Irish football fan over the last 12 months. A drubbing by the Danes, a capitulation in Cardiff and the Declan Rice dilemma, one can be forgiven for thinking it’s all been doom and gloom when it comes to the Boys in Green. There is, however, a small light beginning to flicker at the end …

There’s something in the air at Elland Road this season. In September of last year, Leeds United were also top of the Championship. They had more points at the same stage of the season. But this year, everything has changed. _____ After returning from a serious ankle injury, which kept him out for eight months, Irish U21 international Conor Shaughnessy is …